NI Pharmacists consulted over industrial action - and 90% are for it
A recent consultation from PDA members found “90% were prepared to take industrial action” over inconsistent pay awards by GPs to practice based pharmacists.
Practice based pharmacists in Northern Ireland (NI) are “prepared to take industrial action if a satisfactory resolution is not achieved” in a dispute over the pay awards applied by GP Federations for 2023-24.
The PDA revealed yesterday (August 14) in a consultation with its members that 90% would support industrial action after GP Federations applied pay award funding from the NI government funding to pharmacists “non uniformly”.
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It means “pharmacists doing the same job but working under different GP employers are receiving different pay increases”, the PDA said.
PDA National Officer for Northern Ireland Una O’Farrell said “the PDA believes that equal work deserves equal reward” and reiterated the “need to pay salaries fairly and consistently”.
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“We call on them to return to negotiations with revised proposals for the application of award, with a commitment to transparency going forward”, O’Farrell added.
PDA Union Director Paul Day said the “dispute can be easily resolved if the employers applied the 5% plus £1505 lump sum paid to NHS employees in Northern Ireland”.
“Failed to consult”
The GP Federations hold a recognition agreement with the PDA so the union formally represents practice based pharmacists.
After an impasse in negotiations between GP Federation representatives and PDA officials, the union issued a consultation and wrote to the seventeen GP Federations yesterday (August 14) with the results which also revealed:
- 100% of respondents disagreed with how the pay award has been applied
- 100% of respondents stated that they do not agree with the actions of their employers that effectively breach the recognition agreement held between their employer and PDA
The union say “GP employers failed to consult with the PDA prior to applying the pay award to individuals” and because of “the GP employer’s breach of recognition” as well, it is “in a formal dispute with the Federations”.
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It added that the GP Federations “accepted no collective responsibility to ensure uniformity of application of the pay uplift” and they believed pharmacists were “content” with how the pay has been awarded.
The PDA confirmed members are now moving towards a ballot for industrial action.
